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REPORT 



OF THE 



Entomological Department 



OF THE 



Rhode Island State 
Board of Agriculture 

1913 



PROVIDENCE: 

E. L. FREEMAN CO., STATE PRINTERS 

1914 



REPORT 



OF THE 



ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT 

OF THE 

RHODE ISLAND 
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 

J913 



SB6e4 

.7?4A3 



RHODE ISLAND STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, 
John J. Dunn, Secretary. 



Entomological Department. 

A. E. Stene Entomologist. 

C. W. Loveland Assistant Entomologist. 

Arthur C. Miller Inspector of Apiaries. 



b 



HBRARY OF CONGRESS 
RECEIVED 

DOCUMENTS DIVISION 



Honorable John J. Dunn, 

Secretary R. I. State Board of Agriculture. 

Sir: — I beg to submit herewith to the State Board of Agriculture 
the report, of the entomological work of which the Board has placed 
me in charge. In doing so I wish to gratefully acknowledge the 
cordial and continued support of this work by yourself and members 
of the Board. I also feel that an especial acknowledgment is due 
to Mr, I. L. Sherman of the Board for the time and thought which he 
has generously devoted to the control work against the San Jose 
scale, elm beetle and the gypsy and the brown-tail moths in Newport 
County. 

The Board is also greatly indebted to Dr. L. O. Howard, chief of 
the Bureau of Entomology of the Federal Department of Agriculture, 
and his assistants for their cooperation in the control of the gypsy 
moth. The results achieved in suppressing this insect in Rhode 
Island would not have been possible without Federal assistance. 

Respectfully submitted, 

A. E. STENE, 

Entomologist. 



REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPART- 
MENT OF THE R. L STATE BOARD 
OF AGRICULTURE. 

A. E. STENE, C. W. LOVELAND, ARTHUR C. MILLER. 



The year 1913 has been one of considerable activity and develop- 
ment in the Entomological Department of the State Board. The 
Legislature at the January session of this year enacted a nursery 
and orchard inspection law, the need of which has been called atten- 
tion to in the reports of this department since 1906. This new law 
contains a revision of the nursery inspection law, under which we 
have been working for a number of years, whereby fumigation is no 
longer accepted in lieu of an inspection certificate and agents who have 
no plantation of nursery stock, which can be inspected, can be brought 
under surveillance with regard to where they obtain the stock which 
they sell. Further discussion of the new law and its operation will 
be found on page 13. 

In gypsy and brown-tail moth work the greatly enlarged infested 
area and the increase in numbers of both insects have necessitated a 
great many changes in methods of carrying on the campaign. The 
development during the past year convinced us that still further 
alterations in our plans must be made for another year. Further 
discussion of this line of work will be found on page 22. 

Mr. Charles Sweeney, foreman of the gypsy and brown-tail moth 
work during the later part of 1912 and the first few months of 1913, 
who was hired cooperatively by the State and the Federal Bureau 
of Entomology, resigned his position with the state April 26, and was 
transferred to Government work in the state of Maine. Mr. Carl 
Faunce, of Beverly, Mass., was then engaged as foreman for the state, 
and began work May 12. During the summer it became evident 
that the nursery and orchard inspection work, provided by the new 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 5 

law, would require additional help, and this necessitated that we 
should dispense with the services of Mr. Fauncc in order that someone 
with considerable entomological training might be engaged to devote 
part of his time to the new work. Accordingly Mr. Faunce severed 
his connection with the Board at the close of the burlap season, August 
9, and with the beginning of the winter campaign in September, 
Mr. Horovitz, of Providence, who has been connected with the State 
and Govermnent work for a number of years, and for the past year 
has served as assistant foreman, was appointed to take entire charge 
of the men in the field. 

Mr. Clifton W. Loveland, for many years a teacher of science 
in the East Providence High School, and who has been employed by 
the Board from time to time in inspection work and in various 
entomological projects, was engaged as assistant entomologist 
and he took up his services with the Department September 10th. 

The Department has been fortunate in securing the services of 
Mr. Loveland, since he is not only greatly interested in the study of 
insects, but is also an enthusiastic worker in the campaign for the 
protection of our native birds. It is recognized, of course, that birds 
constitute a tremendously important factor in the control of various 
insect pests, and it is, therefore, expected that Mr. Loveland can 
render excellent service to the Department not only in the entomo- 
logical lines, strictly speaking, but also in endeavoring to foster an 
interest in our insectivorous birds in order that these may be further 
protected and give us greater assistance in the control of noxious pests. 

GENERAL ENTOMOLOGICAL WORK. 

A nmnber of projects which have been under consideration in 
past 3^ears have continued to receive such attention as time would 
permit, although the additions to our work, necessitated by the 
Nursery and Orchard inspection, examination of imported nursery 
stock and the largely increased problem of the gypsy and the brown- 
tail moths have not permitted us to do as much along these lines as 
we had hoped to do with the addition to our working force. 



6 STATE BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 

The collection of injurious insects in the office has been kept in 
mind. Some additions have been made and plans for a more satis- 
factory arrangement of the specimens have been developed and a 
little work has been done on them at odd times. An outline blank 
to be printed and when filled out to be inserted in a loose-leaf note- 
book is in the course of preparation. This will enable us to keep a 
more satisfactory record of the insects of the state with which we 
may come in contact and which we may have occasion to study. By 
the use of this blank we may hope, as time goes on, to make a fairly 
complete and valuable collection of information, at least, in regard 
to the more important insect pests of the state. 

INSECT NOTES. 

Among the insects which have aroused considerable attention on 
account of their presence in large numbers during the past year, the 
tent caterpillar has probably held the lead. This pest was unusually 
abundant last spring and the conspicuous "tents" were in evidence on 
wild cherries and seedling apples along all the roadsides of the State 
and also in neglected orchards. Trees were, in most cases, completely 
defoliated and the bare branches and twigs coupled with the presence 
of large numbers of unsightly "tents," spun by the caterpillars, 
presented a disfiguring appearance to the roadside scenery every- 
where. This insect was quite abundant two years ago, and if we may 
judge from the usual history of our native insects, and from, the fact 
that the egg clusters now found on the trees are frequently more or 
less injured, probably by birds, and attacked by parasitic insects, we 
may look for a gradual subsidence of the pest beginning the present 
year or at least with the summer of 1915. 

A good many people have confused the tent caterpillar with the 
gypsy and brown-tail moths and frequent allusions were made to 
the abundance of these two pests, the statements being based on 
peoples' observations of the large number of tent caterpillars. It 
may be said, however, that although the insects destroy the tidy 
appearance of our roadsides and defoliate many neglected apple 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 

trees, nevertheless they cannot be considered a serious menace to the 
plants in which we are really interested. For instance when we con- 
sider the fact that the wild cherries on the roadsides are a menace 
on account of their harboring other insects pests and plant diseases 
and are of little value for shade or ornament, we should hardly feel 
greatly concerned over their defoliation or possible destruction. The 
attack of the insect on neglected apple trees is also of little consequence 
since such trees are of small value to the owners. On the other 
hand the gypsy moth is destructive to all kinds of fruit and forest 
trees, and it is difficult to control; and the brown-tail moth, in addition 
to its possibilities for rapid increase and its quite large range of food 
plants, is a very serious menace on account of the poisonous effects 
of the hairs shed by the caterpillar. The situation illustrates the 
rather common tendency of people generally to become exercised 
over the immediately visible depredations of some insect which may be 
less important than some other insects, the work of which is far more 
destructive, but which has not come within their personal observa- 
tion. A bulletin is now in preparation describing the tent caterpillar 
and the fall webworm, another of our more common insect pests, 
and it is hoped that this may be published this spring in time to 
be of value for the coming season to people interested in shade trees. 
Some study has been given to the Box Leaf Miner mentioned 
in the reports of this Department three years ago and which seems 
to be somewhat on the increase in Newport where it was first located. 
The insect is an imported pest, and aside from the Rhode Island 
infestation, according to a letter from Mr. E. S. Sasscer, of the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture, it has been reported to occur only in the following 
States: Maryland, New York and Connecticut. This insect was 
first brought to the attention of this office in May, 1910, by Mr. Bruce 
Butterton, of Newport. It was recognized as something new among 
the enemies of box and was forwarded to Dr. E. P. Felt, of New York, 
for identification. He reported that it was the "Box leaf miner, 
Monorthropalpus Buxi" and it probably has been introduced from 
Europe. Lack of time prevented further observation of the insect 



8 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

at that time, but last summer Mr. Butterton again wrote in saying 
that the insect was on the increase and threatened to destroy 
thousands of dollars worth of box plants on the estate of which he 
has charge. Mr. Butterton also sent a small infested plant and from 
this a partial life history has been observed. The imago form of the 
insect appears about the third week in May and the insects begin 
at once to lay eggs by inserting them through the epidermis of 
the leaf. So far observations seem to indicate that the eggs are 
always deposited through the upper epidermis. The eggs hatch 
within a short time and the larva lives entirely within the leaf 
and passes the winter in a dormant state. Further and more 
extended observations in regard to its life history are planned for 
this spring and summer. 

The writer recommended to Mr. Butterton that he spray the 
plants at frequent intervals, about the time that the insects emerge, 
with a contact insecticide or else fumigate the plants about the same 
time. Mr Butterton followed out the suggestions for spraying and 
afterwards reported that he had had excellent results. It is proposed 
to follow up the matter of spraying a little more fully next summer 
with the view of ascertaining the exact time when spraying is most 
effective and the kind of spray material to use. 

Another insect which has occurred in the state for the first time, 
so far as we know, the past year, is the "Apple seed chalcis, " Synto- 
maspis druparum, Boheman. This was found in crab apples sent to 
this office from Elliot V. House, Apponaug. This insect has appeared 
in some other parts of the country and has been described by Prof. 
Cyrus R. Crosby of the Cornell University Experiment Station. 
Further observation on its distribution in Rhode Island will be made 
during the coming year. 

Among the other insects and also plant diseases which have been 
sent into the office and identified by the writer or by some one else 
at his request are the following: (A large number of specimens of 
some of them were sent in from different parts of the State; of others 
only single specimens were submitted). 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. \) 

LIST OF PLANT DISEASES IDENTIFIED IN 1913. 

Apple Rust, {Gymnosporangium niacropus). 
Apple Scab, (Venturia inaequalis). 
Sooty Blotch, (Phyllachora pomigena). 
Bitter Rot, {Glomerella rujomaculans) . 
Black Knot of Plums, (Plowrightia morbosa) . 
Nectria Canker, {Nedria ditissima). 
Peach Leaf Curl, (Exoascus deformans). 
Peach S'Cab, {Cladosporium carpophilum) . 

Bro^ii Rot Fungus on peach twigs, {Sclerotina fructigena) , (Identi- 
fied by M. B. Waite, Bur. Plant Industry). 
Pear Leaf Blight, {Fabraea maculata). 
Pear Scab, (Venturia pyrina). 
Potato Scab, (Oospora scabies). 
Ash leaf Rust, (Puccinia fraxini). 
Quince Rust, {Gymnosporangium clavipes). 
Shot Hole Disease on Plum, {Cylindrosporium Padi). 

LIST OF INSECTS IDENTIFIED IN 1913. 

Apple Seed Chalcis, {Syntomaspis druparum). 
Asparagus Beetle, (Crioceris asparagi). 
Box leaf Miner, {Monorihropalpus buxi). 
Brown -tail Moth, (caterpillar), {Eiiproctis chrysorrhoea). 
Bud Moth, (larvae), {Tnietocera ocellana). 
Apple Tree Tent Caterpillar, {Malacosoma americana). 
Red-Humped Caterpillar, {Schizura concinna). 
Spiny Elm Caterpillar, {Euvanessa antiopa). 
Case bearers, ( ). 

Chauliodes pecticornis. 

Chermes pinicorticis, (Identified by Dr. L. 0. Howard). 
Euonymus Scale, (Chionaspis euonymi). 

Clover Leaf Weevil, (Phytonomus pundatus), (Identified by Dr. 
Webster, Bureau of Entomology). 
Golds,mith Beetle, (Cotalpa lanigera) . 



10 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

Cottony Cushion Scale, {Icerya purchasi) . 

Cottony Maple Scale, {Pulvinaria innumerahilis) . 

Elm leaf Beetle, {Galerucella luteola). 

Eight-spotted Forester, (Alypia octomaculata) . 

Margined Blister Beetle, {Epicauta marginaia) . 

Fall Canker Worm, (Alsophila pometaria). 

Ichneumon Flies, {Thalessa lunator). 

Lappet Moth Caterpillar, {Tolype velleda), (Identified by Prof. 
Barlow) . 

Lecanium Scale on Clematis, (Specimen sent to Prof. Sanders, Wis., 
for further identification). 

Lecanium Comi, (identified by Dr. L. 0. Howard). 

Luna Moth, {Tropea luna). 

Mud-dauber wasp, {nest). 

N. Y. Plum Tree Scale, {Eulecanium juglandis) . 

Oyster Shell Scale, {Lepidosaphes ulmi). 

Peach borer, (Sanninoidea exitiosa) . 

Plum Curculio, (Conotrachelus nenuphar). 

Polyphemus Moth, (Telea Polyphemus). 

Promethea Moth, (Callosamia promethea). 

White Marked Tussock Moth, {Notolophus leucostigma) . 

Rose Bugs, {Macrodactylus suhspinosus) . 

Cecropia Moth, {Samia cecropia). 

Shot Hole Borer, {Scolytus rugulosus). 

Squash vine Borer, {Melittia satyriniformis Hhn). 

Stink Bug, (Podisus spinosus). 

Horse Fly, (Tahanus atratus). 

Unicom prominent, {Coelodasys unicornis). 

Fall Web Worm, {Hyphantria cunea). 

Eriophyes quadripes, (on maple). 

SUGGESTIONS FOR 1914. 

In addition to the plans already mentioned or to be taken up in 
connection with nursery inspection and brown-tail and gypsy moth 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 11 

work, it is hoped that time will permit some work designed to aid 
growers in learning to combat the following insects: beet leaf miner, 
onion thrips, squash bug and squash borer, cabbage maggot and 
cabbage aphis, white pine weevil, codling moth and ai)ple maggot. 

Mr. Loveland has given some time to gathering information on 
cutworms, also in regard to a leaf-tier, Phlyctinia rubigalis, a green- 
house insect that has given florists considerable concern, with a 
view to compiling leaflets giving a resume of important facts relating 
to the life histories and known methods of control. 

A few plant diseases also should be considered. Among them are: 
apple scab and canker, peach rot and peach scab and plum and cherry 
black knot. 

As part of the plans for further work on the gj'psy and brown-tail 
moths and along general entomological lines, a small room in the 
storehouse occupied by the State Board of Agriculture has been 
fitted up with a dark room and a few simple appliances which will 
enable the Department to accomplish certain lines of work hitherto 
impossible on account of lack of facilities. 

ELM BEETLE AND SAN JOSE SCALE WORK. 

The Board of Agriculture failed to secure appropriations in 1913 
for continuing work against these two insects. Some residual funds 
from last year, however, were employed in supplying arsenate of 
lead for elm beetle spraying and in encouraging spraying or in conduct- 
ing demonstrations in methods of dealing with the San Jose scale. 

In the elm beetle work the usual method of cooperating with the 
cities and towns was followed. This year, however, no aid was 
given other than supplying arsenate of lead except that where it 
was desired, as for instance in Newport County, the spray apparatus 
of the Board was loaned to the towns free of charge. 

8,250 pounds of arsenate of lead were purchased by the Board and 
furnished to the cities and towTis as follows: Providence, 5,500 
pounds; South Kingstown, 500 pounds; Woonsocket, 700 pounds; 
North Smithfield, 650 pounds; and the city of Ne^\l^ort and towns 



12 STATE BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 

of Newport County, 900 pounds. Altogether, approximately 15,700 
trees were sprayed, and while the beetle was not so numerous as in 
preceding years, especially where annual spraying has been followed 
for two or three years, nevertheless the good results of the spraying 
work were readily discernible. 

In the San Jose scale work, Mr. James H. Richardson, a practical 
orchardist who has had a great deal of experience in spraying, was 
engaged during January, February and March in visiting orchards 
in Providence and Kent Counties and in arranging for spraying demon- 
strations wherever there seemed to be need of such work. Mr. Rich- 
ardson was able to devote only part of each week to the work, but 
examined forty-two orchards, talked with the owners about methods 
of spraying and incidentally gathered considerable information of 
value about the orchard conditions of the sections through which 
he traveled. He found that the demonstrations carried on by the 
Board a few years ago as well as the general dissemination of informa- 
tion in regard to the scale through bulletins and agricultural papers 
had resulted in a thorough appreciation of the methods and value 
of spraying, and that demonstrations were not generally necessary. 
Two of the spraying outfits belonging to the Board were put into the 
field, however, and were kept busy when the weather permitted the 
work to be clone. 

Present indications are that the San Jose scale is no longer the 
most difficult problem with which the orchardist has to contend. 
Modern methods of spraying when intelligently applied, are thor- 
oughly effective in controlling this pest, and besides when lime and 
sulfur is used, the spray is of great value in helping to control 
plant diseases. It can be said that orchardists have learned more 
about spraying in the past ten years than during all the rest of the 
time that this work has been carried on and the San Jose scale has 
been the schoolmaster. Furthermore, parasitic enemies or other 
unfavorable conditions seem to be affecting the welfare of the scale 
so that it is no longer multiplying so rapidly as it did when it first 
arrived. A little lady bug, Pentilia misella, has been noticed in 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 13 

considerable numbers in many places in the state and no doubt is 
doing its share in checking the spread of the insect. In view of 
present indications, therefore, we may hope that the scale has been 
placed in the same class as the potato bug and several other insects 
which at one time were expected to render impossible the production 
of the crops which they attack. In the future the orchardists can 
feel reasonably assured that if he conducts his orchard according to 
modern practices as to spraying and cultivation, the San Jose scale 
will not be a serious problem. In fact at the present time two older 
insects in the point of attack on our apple orchards are doing more 
damage and many orchardists have not yet learned the application 
of the best methods of control. These are the apple maggot and the 
codling moth. Both of these insects can be readily controlled and 
it would be worth while if funds were available for the Board to 
conduct some demonstrations in the methods of dealing with them. 

NURSERY AND ORCHARD INSPECTION. 

Since 1906 the writer has been calling attention in his reports 
to the Board to certain discrepancies in the Inspection Law as first 
enacted. At the January session of the Legislature for 1913 a new 
law, enabling us to bring our inspection work more nearly up-to-date, 
was enacted. This is known as the Nursery and Orchard Inspection 
Law and provides for the annual inspection of nurseries, the control of 
agents selling nursery stock, but not having a place where nursery 
stock is grown, and for inspection of various horticultural plantations 
whenever it is deemed necessary. Time and the amount of money 
appropriated for the administration of this law have not permitted 
carrying out all its provisions except as they are related to nursery 
inspection. Moreover, the enforcement of provisions in regard to 
orchard inspection must be preceded, in the same way as was the 
nursery inspection, with a campaign of education before it can be 
rigidly enforced. It presents, however, a possible means of coping 
with any injurious insects, especially such as may be imported on 
nursery stock from abroad, and it is probable that it may help us 



14 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

to solve the brown-tail moth situation, for the control of which the 
funds, now provided by the State, are entirely insufficient. 

It was especially fortunate for the Department that the services 
of Mr. Loveland were secured last fall. Through his work it was 
made possible to give more time and care to the inspection of nurseries. 
As a result not only the regular nurseries which had been on our list 
for a number of years were inspected, but a number of small estabUsh- 
ments, largely carried on by florists, were also looked up and their 
stock examined. Fifteen nurseries, — mostly nurseries that have been 
inspected from year to year, — were found to be in good condition and 
were granted certificates at once. Nine others, after cleaning up 
according to the inspector's directions, were also certified. There 
are still six places which have not comphed with tlie regulations of the 
Board and which will be closely watched the coming spring. 

In connection with the examination of nurseries special attention 
has been given to see that they are free from gypsy and brown-tail 
moth infestations. In two cases Mr. Loveland has found gypsy 
moth egg clusters and our gypsy moth force has at once been directed 
to give special attention to the nurseries in question and to the 
surrounding grounds. In like manner brown-tail moth winter nests 
have been removed from all nurseries and surrounding grounds. In 
this connection it is interesting to note that Mr. Loveland, in one of 
his inspections, found that a nurseryman had removed the winter 
nests, but had left them lying on the ground, thinking that in so doing 
there would be no chance of the insects getting to the trees. The 
owner of the nursery was quickly disabused of this idea and ordered 
to rectify the mistake. A colony of the gypsy moth was found in 
one of the Newport nurseries under circumstances which seem to 
indicate that the insect had been brought to this country on the 
stock (Roster's Blue Spruce) on which the egg clusters were found, 
although the present knowledge of the dispersal of these insects as 
small caterpillars may perhaps account for the appearance of this 
colony at a considerable distance from any other known infestation. 
However, along with frequent reports which we are getting of the 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 15 

finding of both gypsy and bro^\^l-tail moths, and of other insects, 
on imported stock, it emphasizes the fact that we must give more 
attention to the inspection of such stock in the future. 

In connection with the surveillance of agents the Board adopted 
a number of regulations and the writer prepared an application blank 
w^hich it is now required shall be filled out by agents before they can 
secure a license to sell stock. So far only nine agents have been found, 
but it is expected that later on some more may be rounded up. 

A considerable part of Mr. Loveland's time has been given to 
the inspection of nursery stock imported from abroad. In spite 
of the facts that such stock should be accepted by transportation 
companies only when accompanied by an inspection certificate from 
the country in which the shipment originates, it is evident, as already 
noted, that inspection Ls sometimes lax or else stock is brought to 
this country without having been actually examined by competent 
inspectors. It is essential, therefore, that we should keep close 
surveillance of such stock at the time of its arrival and also in a general 
way, along with the horticultural plantations of native origin, in the 
localities where they are planted. Such work takes a great deal 
of time iDut it is exceedingly important since there are still a great 
many plant enemies in foreign countries, both insects and plant 
diseases, as yet unknown here but which, if imported and established 
in Rhode Island, may become serious pests and entail great financial 
loss to our growers. And furthermore, as has been pointed out in 
a previous report, the establishment of serious foreign plant pests 
in this state may lay the state liable to a Federal quarantine of the 
affected plant or plant products which will work considerable hardship 
and loss to the growers. 

In connection with the inspection work we were fortunate in securing 
through Dr. Spaulding of the Bureau of Plant Industry, in the early 
part of last summer, a thorough inspection of our nurseries and pine 
plantations to discover, if possible, whether there were any more 
cases of the white pine disease present in the State. We are happy 
to rejiort that he could find no definite evidence of the presence 



16 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

of the disease, and it is hoped that the inspection of the year before by 
an agent of this Department and the destruction of the trees found 
infested, may have stamped it out within this state. 

As part of the campaign to keep track of injurious insects and plant 
diseases, the following circular letter has been printed, calling atten- 
tion to some of the dangers from the plant diseases here enumerated 
and asking that those especially, who import nursery stock from 
foreign countries shall keep closely in touch with the Department 
so that if any new or unusual plant diseases are discovered, we may 
be promptly notified and may investigate the report before the pest 
has had a chance to become too firmly established. 

Providence, March 1, 1914. 

To Nurserymen and others interested in' the control of injurious insects arid plant 
diseases. 

Dear Sir: — Experience and study during the last quarter century or so has 
developed two very useful and practical lines of scientific work known as Economic 
Entomology and Plant Pathology. From these sciences we have learned to reahze 
more fully what an immense amount of damage to cultivated crops is caused by 
injurious insects and plant diseases. Conservative estimate place the injury and 
financial loss to crops and plant products from insects alone at nearly a bilhon 
dollars per year, and plant diseases do not fall far behind in the amount of injury 
to plants of economic value. The enormous sums mentioned do not take into 
account the injury caused to domestic animals and to man through parasitic 
insects and through insects which act as carriers of disease. 

Fortunately the close study of injurious insects and plant diseases by the State 
experiment stations and the Federal Department of Agriculture has revealed 
many valuable facts about the habits and characteristics of the different pests 
and from this knowledge, methods have been developed tlirough which many 
of the species have been brought under practical control, thus saving agriculture 
and alhed industries of the country milhons of dol'^^rs annually, not to mention 
the incalculable benefit which has accrued, especially in tropical countries, from 
a knowledge of how to control disease-carrying insects. 

We still have a large number of injurious insects and plant diseases for which 
no practical methods of control have as yet been developed and which must, 
therefore, be given further study before we can hope to deal with them in a 
satisfactory manner. 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 17 

An interesting fact which has been brought out both by scientific study and 
practical experience is that insects brought to us in one way or another from 
foreign countries often prove more destructive than native insects. We need 
only mention the gypsy and brown-tail moths, the San Jos6 scale and the elm 
leaf beetle to convince anyone who has kept in touch with current events in horti- 
culture and forestry during the last fifteen or twenty years that imported insects 
can cause milhons of dollars of loss to trees and other plants in which we are 
interested. 

Quite a large number of imported plant pests have become established in the 
United States, but there are still a large number of species of insects and plant 
diseases in foreign countries, second in destructivenesss to none of those which 
have been imported, which may be brought into this country at any time and 
established as serious pests to our plants and plant products. 

It is of the utmost importance that the introduction of these pests be prevented 
and to this end a Federal quarantine law has been enacted giving the United 
States Department of Agriculture power to prescribe rules and regulations in 
regard to the importations of foreign nursery stock and to establish quarantines 
forbidding importations of plants and plant products Uable to bring injurious 
insects or plant diseases into this country. Tliis law also compels each state to 
assist in guarding against such introductions on penalty of being quarantined 
should any seriously injurious insect or plant disease become established within 
its borders. It is under this law that certain sections of this and other New 
England states are now quarantined on account of the presence of the gypsy 
and browni-tail moths. 

From the above statements it can be readily seen that it is to the interest of 
each state to make every effort to guard against the importations of plant pests, 
and for this reason the Entomological Department of the Rhode Island State 
Board of Agricultm-e is in thorough cooperation with the Federal Horticultural 
Board which has the enforcement of this law in charge. So far as funds permit, 
the Department is also increasing its working force and facilities in order that it 
may be of the fullest service to the people of the state in controlling plant pests 
and we would earnestly urge every one to communicate with this Department in 
regard to any plant pest problem and especially in regard to any new pest 
which may be discovered. 

In spite of the most rigid inspections, both abroad and in this country, insects 
and plant diseases may be introduced and it is vitally important that the State 
Board should be informed of their presence before they have spread to such an 
extent that extermination becomes impossible. 

Nurserymen especially should bear this in mind since the establishment of 
quarantines in consequence of the presence of new pests will inflict upon them 



18 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

considerable inconvenience in connection with the production and shipment of 
nursery stock. 

This office will be glad to receive any specimens of insects or plant diseases 
which people of the state wish identified and if they cannot be identified here, 
our arrangements with the Federal Horticultural Board enable us to send them 
to specialists at Washington. No special care need be exercised in sending the 
specimens except to see that they are put in containers so that they cannot 
escape and will not be crushed in passing through the mails. In forwarding 
plant diseases send fairly liberal samples showing such different characteristics 
of the disease as may have been discovered, and in sending insects enclose with 
the specimens some of the leaves or other material on which they are feeding. 
It is well to give also in a letter as much information as possible about the occur- 
rence of the insects or diseases and the kinds of plants which they have been found 
to afTect. 

We can supply on request franks for sending in specimens and if necessary, we 
will also supply suitable mailing cases. Furthermore, if conditions seem to 
warrant, a representative of the office will be sent to investigate any new or 
unusual outbreak of plant pests. 

We earnestly sohcit your cooperation in our effort to control injurious insects 
and plant diseases and especially in bringing to our notice any new forms which 
you may come across. Will you not also kindly aid us in passing on the informa 
tion contained in this circular to others who may be interested. We shall be 
glad to send this and other circulars which we may have to any persons whose 
name and address is sent to us with a request for information on injurious insects 
and plant diseases. 

Yours very truly, 

A. E. STENE, 

Slate Entomologist. 

In connection with the plant pest control we are cooperating with 
the Federal Horticultural Board, which has the enforcement of the 
Federal Quarantine Law in charge, and through their assistance we 
are able to keep track of importations as they come in; it also gives 
us an opportunity to secure the advice of the experts of the Department 
of Agriculture in case we have problems coming up which may be 
difficult for us to solve. 

At the time of writing this report news has reached the office that 
the "Powdery Scab" of the potato has been found in the state of 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 19 

Maine. Maine officials have promptly taken measures to stamp 
out the disease and prevent its spread and have secured in this con- 
nection the hearty cooperation of the Federal Horticultural Board. 
In view of the fact that we get a great many of our seed potatoes 
from Maine, it seems advisable that our seedsmen and potato growers 
should carefully examine such seed as they may purchase, and to 
the end that this may be brought to the attention, especially, of 
seedsmen the following circular letter is being sent to all such dealers 
as we are able to locate. It may also be wise to send it out to potato 
growers and to granges in the state. 

To the Seedsmen of Rhode Island. 

Gentlemen: — You may probably have learned through the newspapers that a 
European disease of the potato known as the " Powdery Scab " has gained entrance, 
at least in one state in New England. This disease is considered by European 
students of plant diseases to be one of the worst potato diseases with which they 
have to contend and it is exceedingly important that its spread be checked in this 
country. Should it gain entrance in Rhode Island, it will be a great menace to 
potato growing which, as you know, is a very important part of our agriculture. 

The United States Department of Agriculture is cooperating with the State 
of Maine, where the disease has been found, and an effort is being made to prevent 
the shipment from that state of diseased potatoes. Seedsmen and growers of 
Rhode Island should be on the lookout for diseased potatoes and examine carefully 
all seed tubers which they may handle, whether they come from Maine or not, 
even though they have been marked as inspected, since it may be possible for 
shghtly diseased seed potatoes to escape even the closest scrutiny of careful 
inspectors. 

There is also a possibility that the disease may have gained entrance in other 
parts of New England where it is not as yet known to exist and from which seed 
potatoes are occasionally secured. 

The Entomological Department of the State Board of Agriculture which has 
the work of plant disease as well as insect pest suppression of the state in charge, 
is working in cooperation vvith the Federal Horticultural Board and inspectors 
of other states in control work of this kind and we hope that we may have the 
hearty support of all persons in the state who may be concerned in any way in the 
handling of agricultural products that may disseminate injurious insects and 
plant diseases. 



20 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

We trust, therefore, that should any suspicious seed potatoes come to your 
notice and should you know of any cases where such potatoes are being sold, 
where they may be used for seed, that you will kindly inform us in order that we 
may take measures to prevent the estabUshment of the disease should it prove 
to have gotten into the state. 

Seedsmen and growers should also look out for another European potato 
disease known as the "Potato Wart Disease. " Quarantines have been established 
by the Federal Horticultural Board against this disease and chances of its intro- 
duction into the country have on that account been greatly lessened; nevertheless 
we should second their efforts to the best of our abihty and aid by keeping a close 
watch for this disease among our seed potatoes. 

Yours very truly, 

A. E. STENE, 

Slate Entomologist. 

APIARY INSPECTION. 

Bee keeping is in a prosperous condition within the state and the 
keeping of bees is arousing the attention especially of orchardists 
since the function of bees as cross-pollenizers is becoming more widely 
known. As indicated by Mr. Miller's report, which is appended, 
there have been no alarming developments in the line of bee diseases 
the past season. Such cases as have occurred have been promptly 
stamped out under the direction of the inspector. 

Mr. Miller calls attention to a lack of completeness in our law in 
that it does not provide for the inspection of bees which are shipped 
into this state from other states. I believe that his recommendation 
in regard to an amendment in this respect should be heeded. 

Mr. Miller is revising the bee bulletin published two years ago, 
the supply of which has been exhausted. A brief circular on bee 
plants is also under consideration and I hope to arrange with Miss 
Campbell of the Domestic Science Department of the State College 
to prepare a leaflet on honey as food. The purpose of this leaflet 
will be to disseminate information in regard to the many uses of honey 
in human foods and to increase, if possible, its consumption. 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 21 



REPORT ON APIARY INSPECTION. 



ARTHUR C. MILLER. 



The apiary inspection work has been comparatively hght during 
the season of 1913. The European type of Foul Brood again broke 
out in the town of Warwick and the inspector destroyed one colony 
of diseased bees. Since then no further trouble has been reported 
from this place. The same disease also appeared in Harrisville, 
where it had been running some time before the inspector was notified. 
Several colonies had died and the two surviving ones were treated, 
but were too much depleted to survive. 

In both places the disease was brought in with bees shipped in 
from outside the state. Both Massachusetts and Connecticut now 
have laws prohibiting the importation of bees unless accompanied 
by the certificate of an inspector that they are free from any conta- 
gious or infectious disease. A similar law is imperative here as bees 
are constantly being brought here to supply the local demand. 

The inspector wishes to urge caution in the use of lead poisons in 
fruit spraying. They are working widespread harm in the destruction 
not only of honey bees but of many other pollen carrying insects. 
So much damage has been done in some places that beekeepers are 
avoiding the vicinity of orchards in placing their apiaries. This 
will ultimately cause serious loss to fruit growers. 

The inspector has been often called upon for instruction and 
advice in beekeeping and many requests have been made for an 
institute devoted to beekeepers. Several commercial apiaries have 
increased in size and others established or planned. The quality 
of the honey produced in the state is second to none and finds a 
ready market at profitable prices. 



22 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL, MOTH WORK. 

The past two years has marked a considerable change in our 
outlook with respect to these two pests. In 1911 the work was 
suspended on account of lack of appropriations and fears were 
entertained as to the probable spread which would result. On 
resuming work in 1912, it was found that our predictions in regard 
to the probable spread made in the spring of 1911 fell far short 
of the actual results. The appropriation granted in 1912 did not 
suffice to take care of the insects in the old infested area and a partial 
scouting of the territory revealed many new colonies. This was 
especially true of the brown-tail moth. Where small colonies were 
found only here and there in 1910, the work of 1912 revealed several 
colonies of sufficient size to make trouble not only by defoliating trees, 
but also by poisoning people through the hairs shed by the cater- 
pillars. An effort was made to remove winter nests, but with the 
added work required by the increase in the gypsy moth territory, 
the funds were inadequate for a satisfactory campaign against either 
pest. The year 1912 seemed entirely favorable for both insects 
and the funds of the Board of Agriculture wpre barely sufficient to 
go over the outlying towns and even in the gypsy-moth work, where 
we had the usual cooperation of the Federal Department of Agri- 
culture, some of the older infestations received inadequate attention. 

WORK OF THE YEAR 1913. 

The year 1913 opened with the Federal Department of Entomology 
doing all the work against the gypsy moth while the state forces 
were devoting their entire attention to the brown-tail moth in an 
effort to stem its rapid increase and continued spread over the state. 

BROWN-TAIL MOTH WORK. 

In the campaign against this pest the entire southern and western 
border of the known infested territory from Newport County on 
the South through the towns of Warwick, Johnston, Scituate, Glocester 
and Burrillville on the West were carefully gone over. The men then 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 23 

worked eastward from Burrillville through North Smithfield into 
Woonsocket and then shifted to Bristol, working northward into 
Warren. In the outlying sections the men cleared all the infested 
trees which they came across and this thorough work was carried 
on through the town of Bristol. Mr. I. L. Sherman of the Board 
superintended a similar campaign through Newport County. When 
we came to North Smithfield and Woonsocket, however, the season 
was so far advanced and the funds so far gone that it became evident 
we could not cover the entire territory. A plan was therefore taken 
up whereby the trained climbers of the state force were directed to 
clear the high trees and the local property owners were called upon 
to take care of the low trees. In Warren, where the town authorities 
took hold of the matter and cooperated with the state forces, this 
plan worked out fairly well. In some of the other districts, however, 
the scheme was not wholly successful, because neither the towns 
nor the property owners made any attempt to second the efforts 
of the State Board workers. 

In Central Falls, through the activity of Mr. Sheldon, principal 
of the High School, the high school boys were enlisted to eradicate 
the nests and the state provided two men to assist them. This work 
had excellent results since the people of Central Falls were protected, 
to a very large extent, from the ravages of the pest and the accom- 
panying poisoning, although the city was pretty thoroughly infested 
earlier in the season. 

In Pawtucket and Providence, the city authorities cleared publicly 
owned trees, but property owners did not generally take a hand in 
the campaign, so that a large number of cases of brown-tail poisoning 
were reported from these two places during early summer, and the 
pear trees and oaks in many places were totally stripped of their 
foliage. 

The following is an estimate of the number of winter nests removed 
and burned by our men during the winter season of 1912 and 1913, 
and up to January 10, 1914. 



24 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

December 2, 1912 to April 19, 1913. 

Burrillville 3,740 

North Smithfield 3,675 

Woonsocket 30,470 

Warren (By our men) 7,860 

Bristol 97,775 

Barrington 1,140 

East Providence 5,065 

Newport County 47,000 

196,725 
December 1, 1913 to January 10, 1914- 

East Greenwich 1,153 

North Kingstown 2,827 

Warwick 1,400 

Burrillville 3,500 

Newport County 10,700 



25,880 



The work was again resumed at the earliest possible opportunity 
in the fall of 1913. December 1 the men, who had been up to that 
time devoting their attention to the gypsy moth, were divided into 
two crews. The more expert climbers were delegated to the brown- 
tail moth work and the rest remained on the gypsy moth work. 

With a view to determining the extent of the spread and also to 
clear the outlying sections, the brown-tail squad was first sent to 
East Greenwich and directed to work south until they came to the 
limit of the infestation. This project took them through the town 
of North Kingstown. They were then shifted back to East Green- 
wich and directed to work west and northwest along the border of 
the infestation and this project took them through the eastern part 
of West Greenwich, Coventry, Scituate, Foster, Glocester and Burrill- 
ville. They then worked through North Smithfield and Smithfield. 



KEPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 25 

after which the appropriation was found to be so nearly exhausted 
that the work had to be stopped and accordingly the men were laid 
off February 7, 1914. 

Another squad of men, under the direction of Mr. I. L. Sherman, 
had carefully gone over the towns in Newport County. 

A little scouting but no removal of nests has been attempted 
in the towns of the infested districts which had not been gone over 
by our men for tlie purpose of removing the nests. 

The work of the season indicates that there has been a considerable 
spread of the insect during the past year, also a large increase in the 
old infested areas. It also illustrates that where thorough work is 
done in removing the nests from high as well as low trees, the increase 
of the insects can be materially checked and satisfactory protection 
to trees and to people afforded. In fact, in the towns where our 
men did the most thorough work, the infestation found this winter 
is no greater than it is in the newly infested towns situated in a similar 
relation to some thickly infested locality from which the insect could 
spread. 

At the very urgent requests of people in very thickly settled sections 
of Providence, a little spraying was done in the spring 1913 in the 
hope that the insects might be checked somewhat, but we had 
abundant proof that this line of work is of doubtful effectiveness. 
The treefe were stripped before the leaves were well out and our 
spraying of the remains of the foliage only served to scatter the 
insects more rapidly to other trees that had not been previously 
attacked. The same season afforded abundant opportunity for 
many people, especially in Providence and Pawtucket, to realize 
what a scourge this pest can become and we have been getting 
reports all through the season of people who were compelled to seek 
medical attention for the brown-tail rash. 

GYPSY MOTH WORK. 

The Federal Government devoted such time and funds as were 
available during January, February and March to creosoting egg 



26 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

clusters of the gypsy moth. They were unable, however, to cover 
the entire infested territory and a considerable area was left without 
any attention. The State appropriation for 1913 did not become 
available until May and this was too late for any effective winter 
or spring work against the gypsy moth. Arrangements were made, 
however, to spray part of the worst infested territory which had not 
been covered by winter work. The main part of this district was 
included between Smith and Eaton streets, in Providence, also some 
blocks to the west of the area mentioned, notably in what is known 
as Shoe String Park. In this spraying work 1,238 trees and a good 
many shrubs were sprayed at a cost of approximately $340. 

The use of burlaps was also continued, but owing to the increase 
in territory, it was impossible to cover the entire infested area. It 
was, therefore, decided to devote the burlaps to the new infestations 
in the hope that thorough and continued work would finally exter- 
minate the insect in these areas. Burlaps were also put on along 
the main roads leading from the old infested district. 

The following is a list of places where burlaps were used and the 
approximate number of larvae and pupse found and destroyed. 

No. of 
City or Town. burlaps. 

Providence 6,691 

Cranston and South Auburn 2,300 

Bristol 800 

Portsmouth 76 

East Providence and Rumford. . : 1,500 

Glocester 270 

Cumberland 2,800 

Lincoln 1,250 

North Providence 3,650 

North Smithfield 950 

Johnson 2,450 

Pawtucket 1,000 

Warwick 300 

Natick 87 

Oakland Beach 2,700 

26,824 46,678 



Times 


No. of Pupse 


turned. 


and Larvae. 


18 


5,892 


18 


4,000 


18 


1,000 


9 


4 


18 


2,450 


8 





18 


2,300 


24 


150 


16 


6,600 


16 


5,250 


18 


4,600 


24 


2,100 


16 


500 


16 


32 


16 


11,800 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 27 

This gave us approximately 26,824 burlaps which were turned 
from 8 to 24 times, according to location and the number of insects 
which were met with, and a total of 46,678 larvae and pupse were 
destroyed. 

The burlap season closed the first week in August. The burlaps 
were removed and burned and the men were laid off August 9. 

The work was resumed again September 8 and continued through 
the year and until the funds were exhausted in February. The 
outlying sections were given first consideration and when the funds 
were exhausted, the men were working in the infested sections of 
Providence. Up to January 26, 1914, 321 different infestations were 
located and work carrried on with the following results: Trees 
scraped and pruned, 420; trees cut down, 146; zinc patches put on, 
1,020; cavities cemented, 78; acres of brush land cleared, 36^4; total 
number of egg clusters creosoted, 17,290. In this work the men have 
used 240 pounds of zinc, 65 pounds of nails, 11 gallons of coal tar, 
and 25 gallons of creosote. 

EDUCATIONAL WORK. 

The success of our entomological work will depend to an increasing 
extent on the support given it by the public generally No amount 
of effort expended by the State in controlling insect pests will be 
wholly satisfactory unless it is supported by individual property 
owners. For this reason it is important that the residents of the state 
should be instructed so far as possible in regard to injurious insects 
and plant diseases, but particularly in regard to those which constitute 
the most important present menace. To this end an exhibit was 
prepared showing the life histories of the gypsy and brown-tail 
moths, the methods of combatting them and various other lessons 
of interest. This consisted of life history mounts, enlargements of 
photographs of the insects and methods of work, results of careless 
treatment of trees which favor the pests and some of the tools used 
in the work. In addition life history mounts are in preparation, 
copies of which can be sent to high schools; numerous articles for 



28 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

the press have been prepared; illustrated lectures have been given 
in various places and some popular leaflets and bulletins are in 
preparation. 

PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE PLANS IN REGARD TO THE GYPSY AND 
BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. 

Both the gypsy and brown-tail moths are now thoroughly estab- 
lished over a wide area of the state and so far as the brown-tail is 
concerned, there is little hope of even checking its spread to say 
nothing of exterminating it. The gypsy moth is also rapidly estab- 
lishing itself in different sections of the state; in fact, partial reports 
from Government scouts now at work (March, 1914), seem to indicate 
that since the last complete inspection of the state by the Federal 
Bureau of Entomology, the gypsy moth has spread until nearly 
every town has one or more infestations. This rapid spread is due 
no doubt in part to the increase of the insect in the older infested 
area since 1911 when work was suspended for lack of funds. 

To use a well worn illustration, the dissemination of the gypsy 
moth may be likened to the spread of a forest fire. When the fire 
is kept from blazing up, there is little danger of spread and the chances 
of extinguishing it are good. When allowed to get beyond control, 
however, sparks are scattered far and wide starting new centers of 
conflagration and the work of controlhng it is multiplied a thousand 
fold. In a like manner the danger of spread of the gypsy moth is 
small when the insect is kept thoroughly suppressed, but when it 
increases in numbers so that trees are stripped and food becomes 
scarce, the spread becomes increasingly rapid. Recent investigation 
by the Federal Bureau of Entomology seems to indicate that the 
chief method of dissemination is not by automobiles or through the 
transportation of material carrying egg clusters, but through the 
distribution of the small caterpillars by the wind. Through this 
"aviation" of the young caterpillars, the insect will, of course, 
spread most rapidly in the direction of prevailing winds and it is 
no doubt, for this reason, that the insect has been distributed over 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 29 

such wide areas in New Hampshire and Maine. It is also to be 
presumed that the wide scattering of the insects in Khode Island 
during the past year is due to winds unusually favorable to the insect 
while in the young caterpillar stage. 

According to present agreement with Mr. Worthley, superintendent 
of field work of the Federal Bureau of Entomology, his men will scout 
the entire state before the close of the present winter season and 
during the simmier, the Federal forces will devote their attention 
to exterminating the insect in the new infestations while the State men 
will devote their time to suppressing the gypsy moth in the older 
infestations. To do this will require a large part of the appropriation 
asked for by the State Board of Agriculture. In fact, the appropria- 
tion will hardly be sufficient unless spray apparatus, adequate to 
carry on extensive operations necessitated by a much wider area 
of the infestation, is provided. Burlapping work, which has been 
carried on in the past with a view to accomplish the eventual exter- 
mination of the insect, will be too expensive under our present 
conditions. We must now devote practically our entire attention to 
creosoting egg clusters in the winter time and to spraying, and possibly 
tanglefooting in the summer time. 

In taking up a campaign of spraying our small orchard sprayers will 
be entirely inadequate and we must adopt the high power woodland 
sprayers, which have been used in Massachusetts for several years. 
Without such sprayers we shall be unable to do effective work 
during the coming summer and it will be necessary for us to devote 
some money for the purchase of such machines. The most difficult 
question to determine is whether the state shall secure an auto-truck 
sprayer or a horse drawn machine. In favor of the first named 
machine are the facts that while our infested area is extensive, it 
is not solidly infested so that in carrying on our spraying, it would 
be necessary to move around from place to place a great deal. 
Another argument in favor of the auto-sprayer is that a great deal 
of time can be saved during the sprajdng work, especially where the 
source of water is some distance from the trees to be sprayed. This 



30 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

is a vital point since the length of time in which the spraying can be 
done is comparatively short. 

With regard to the brown-tail moth the situation is quite different. 
It may be said at this point that the conception of the relative 
importance of the two insects by people generally is at variance with 
the attitude of those who have kept in touch with the history of the 
two pests. To the general public the brown-tail, on account of the 
rash which follows in its wake, is much the more serious pest. To 
those who know the relative destructiveness, however, of the two 
insects, the gypsy moth seems of far greater importance. The brown- 
tail moth also is more subject to parasitic insects and other natural 
checks and consequently its rapid increase in infested areas comes 
to an end in a comparatively short time. Inasmuch as it spreads a 
great deal more rapidly, there is not the same possibility of checking 
its distribution as there is with the gypsy moth and efforts in this 
line are out of consideration. So far as the state work is concerned, 
therefore, the brown-tail moth must be looked upon as a problem 
to be solved by each locality. Each individual property owner must 
more and more depend upon himself for protection against injury 
from the insect. In support of this idea is the fact also that the 
brown-tail moth is of primary importance as a pest on fruit and 
shade trees around dwellings and of less importance as a forest insect. 

NATURAL CHECKS TO INSECTS. 

Two or three years ago brief statements of progress by workers 
in the employ of the Federal Bureau of Entomology and the state 
of Massachusetts in regard to insect diseases and predaceous and 
parasitic enemies of the gypsy and brown-tail moths, and perhaps 
the somewhat undue optimism of some of the unauthorized announce- 
ments from some of the men in the work were caught up by a few 
newspapers and it was proclaimed by them that further appropriation 
for combatting either the gypsy or the brown-tail moth would be 
unnecessary. Those who have kept in touch with the history of 
the two insects and especially those who have been most closely 



REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 31 

connected with the so-called parasite work, prominent among whom 
is Dr. Howard, Chief of the Bureau of Entomologj', U. S. Department 
of Agriculture, were not so sanguine regarding the speedy success 
of the work which they had in hand. Based on information secured 
from various reliable sources, but chiefly from Dr. Howard himself, 
the writer issued a brief statement in 1910 warning against the too 
optimistic feeling in regard to the solution of the gypsy and brown- 
tail moth problem and the results of the past three years have fully 
borne out the statements in the circular mentioned. In spite of 
the fact, however, that it is necessary to throw cold water on the hope 
of a speedy relief through parasitic and predaceous enemies of the two 
pests, it should be noted that everyone, especially those that are most 
closely coimected with the work, is looking forward to eventual 
success in this line. Considerable progress has already been made 
and a number of predaceous and parasitic enemies are aiding materially 
in the campaign against the insects. It should be remembered, 
nevertheless, that parasitic and predaceous insects are not always 
readily transferred from one country to another and that it may take 
sometime for them to become established. This is true of host 
insects as well as of their parasites. The gypsy moth for instance, 
was introduced in 1869 and it took 20 years for it to become thoroughly 
established and to increase sufficiently to cause general concern. 
Furthermore, those who labor to establish the enemies of the gypsy 
and brown-tail moths must exercise infinite care in order that secondary 
parasites may not be introduced to destroy the effectiveness of the 
primary parasites. The situation is decidedly hopeful but it is certainly 
not time as yet to cease applying the methods which have been found 
effective in the past. In fact it may be doubtful if we can ever lay 
aside entirely the mechanical methods of control. As everyone 
knows, even our native insects, which have an abundant number 
of natural enemies, are not always checked by them and there are 
seasons when conditions seem favorable for their almost unlimited 
increase. We need only point to the prevalence of the tent cater- 
pillar during the past two seasons and to the not infrequent recurrence 
of the so-called army worm. 



32 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

It should be noted also that in Europe where the balance between 
parasites and host insects has been as fully established as possible, 
occasional outbreaks of both of the insects in question are recorded 
with serious devastations of the trees and the plants which they 
affect. 

With the development of the work it becomes, to a certain degree, 
more specialized and we shall need to exercise particular care in 
securing and holding the men that can render effective service. 
We will, therefore, be compelled to reduce the number of men whom 
we have been in the habit of employing so that we can hold our best 
men by giving them employment throughout the entire year. In 
the past when we have done a great deal of burlap work, taking on a 
number of men unaccustomed to our work has been possible since 
through the instruction of a few men that we have held over, the many 
could be taught to do efficient service in turning burlaps. Spraying 
work, on the other hand, will require longer training, and as we have 
already pointed out, the winter work of searching for and creosoting 
egg clusters requires considerable experience and the habit of careful 
and thorough work. 

At the present time we feel that the men whom we have in our 
employ are among the most satisfactory crews that we have ever had. 
I take pleasure especially in commending the work of the foreman, 
Mr. Horovitz. He has been in the work for a number of years and 
has taken more than a usual interest in its outcome. During the 
past season, also,- he has shown himself as a capable foreman. Har- 
mony has prevailed in the work and there has been encouraged on 
the part of the entire field force a high degree of thoroughness and 
effectiveness. Mr. Horovitz' s knowledge of conditions and his 
reports indicate a grasp of the situation second to none of the men that 
we have had in the same position in the past. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

D0DDflflHt,E3b 



